Im returning to the game in prelude, after having missed most of C5 (so i have no experience with how the c5 balance changes turned out)
Im planning on rejoining my old clan, and seeing as they mainly need support classes (doesnt all clans?) i was thinking of making a BD or a SwS, as i dont want to play a healer type of support class
I have a 48 SE and 48 PP on separate accounts (leveling these 2 + a BH all at once legitly and without SS is what made me quit the game the last time hehe, i simply burned out)
So ill either have a BD, or SwS with a SE OOP for buffing, not sure how useful the PP would be as you can get GSAP so basically the only thing you aint getting from the PP is zerk ? (i dont feel like levleing the buffers, maybe to 52 or so but at least not to 74 for greater might etc)
Also, i have read that BDs crit power buff (+ death whisper) gets nerfed a bit in Interlude, meaning that the difference between BD and SwS offensive buf***e isnt that big any more ?
Will DOUBLING ones crit rate while having SE buffs come close to getting +15% attack speed, +12% patk, +4 accuracy and + 25% crit damage from the BD? I propably have to solo with the OOP buffer until mid 60s so im worried about the SwS not being up for the task with their lesser damage output (?)
I guess what im really wondering about is wether or not SwS will get teams in Interlude ? Back in C4 all teams wanted a BD, but SwS didnt get teams that easily since BD simply buffed a teams damage output far more. But with Interlude the difference isnt so big so people will maybe take in a SwS if they cant find a BD ?
I have a 48 SE and 48 PP on separate accounts (leveling these 2 + a BH all at once legitly and without SS is what made me quit the game the last time hehe, i simply burned out)
It's best to powerlevel the PP and SE with your higher level clanmates, if they'll let you. If not no worries. Your BD will be in A grade in no time with those outside buffs, and you can just have one of your buffers tag along in party and leave the other OOP.
so basically the only thing you aint getting from the PP is zerk ? (i dont feel like leveling the buffers, maybe to 52 or so but at least not to 74 for greater might etc)
Actually you don't need to go that high to get Greater Might and Greater Defense. Just 58. (Which is where I stopped leveling my PP for now.) Yes, these buffs do come in handy. Plus don't forget the PP's resistance buffs, like Holy and Unholy that are also nice to have, albeit not mandatory.
Also, i have read that BDs crit power buff (+ death whisper) gets nerfed a bit in Interlude, meaning that the difference between BD and SwS offensive buf***e isnt that big any more ?
It does get nerfed a bit, but I understand it isn't the death knell for BD's. After all +DW is not the only facet that makes BD's faster killing machines than an SwS.
...SwS not being up for the task with their lesser damage output (?)
Nothing has been done in Interlude as far as I know to improve the damage capability of Light Elves. If you're going SWS, play it for the defensive support that it brings to your group/clan.
I guess what im really wondering about is whether or not SwS will get teams in Interlude ?
Yes, you will get groups by those that are informed enough to know what an SwS brings to the table. But by the same token, a BD is in demand from level 40 on. SwS don't usually get love from party goers until they are much higher level, or so my friend often tells me (whine). :)
Solo the BD will outlevel the SWS by a great deal, even more so if you add some + STR dyes. I've been leveling one up now, and I've been using Plated Leather armor, he's really awesome with 49 STR Oo;
SwS is one of the most rare classes,your clanmates will love you and need you in every fighter group.
the bad thing is SwS suxx big time in solo PvE/PvP.
1) If you want to level fast, and want to get to 70+ ASAP go BD
2) As stated above: PVE Bd, but for PVP Sws is much better :p
3) If you want to level a SWS fast solo, with those 2 buffers out of party you should have no problem leveling to mid-60s just with AOE (that's what I do)
Sws are nice for daggers/archers/pole parties but for blunt weapons/mages they suck in pve.
I've seen mages, archers and some Orc-types take out BD's without breaking a sweat. I've yet to see an SK lose to a BD. That pretty much puts BD in the middle of the PVP chain, which doesn't mean they "sux" necessarily, but it's no reason to rave. A BD better know his role/capabilities, or it will get very frustrating very quickly.
I've seen mages, archers and some Orc-types take out BD's without breaking a sweat. I've yet to see an SK lose to a BD. That pretty much puts BD in the middle of the PVP chain, which doesn't mean they "sux" necessarily, but it's no reason to rave. A BD better know his role/capabilities, or it will get very frustrating very quickly.
I did a few tests with "l2calc", keeping all variables the same for both classes (ie the same buffs from outside sources, + their own selfbuffs) and kept the gear optimal for their role (2h focus sword on the sws and focus duals on the BD) for lvls 49 (When sws gets the crit song and bd only has 2 offensive buffing songs) and 58 (When bd has their full arsenal of melee buffs) and according to the simulator BD vastly outdamages the SwS
It was roughly 50% more damage output from the BD in the lvl 58 (tats, no tats, pp or no pp buffs etc) and around 30% more damage at 49 when you would think the SwS actually had the edge (bd had crit around 156, while sws had 279)
Even when i did tests without dance of fire up, to simulate the incoming nerf to crit power buffs, the BD did way more damage than the SwS
Of cource, its just a text based simulator and is propably not 100% accurate, but its strange the bd is SO much better
edit: i also did tests with 49 and 58 glad with the same OOP buffs as i gave the other 2, and the glad barely does more damage than the SwS, it too gets outperformed by BD by a mile (of cource, this is without the glad using any attack skills)
id take a sws in a pole group over a bd anyday (well untill bd gets dance of vamp :/ )
and a bd or sws in mass pvp should be doing their job which is not running around trying to kill ppl
ive seen way to many pvp runs fail because the dancer decided he wanted to go +1 instead of keeping dances up
and a bd or sws in mass pvp should be doing their job which is not running around trying to kill ppl
ive seen way to many pvp runs fail because the dancer decided he wanted to go +1 instead of keeping dances up
So true.. stay close to the party, and run if you're taking damage. I had great fun on my 74 SWS last siege, hating and arresting poor little souls that got too close.. and of course running down poor lost souls that tried to flee :) Actually got some kills too, duo SWS' arresting and critting for 1k each is bad for anyone :P
PvE.. try to test that out as a SwS.. doable from lvl 52, rocking at 61.
Only needs PP buffs.
Godly in archer duos as its almost another archer + one archer critting like mad...
SwS has an edge in that it doesnt need a specific wpn to lvl ;)
Im a BD btw, DE > LE in looks sadly..
Also count that there are ALOT of BDs out there... so SwS in a decent to good clan wont have problem at all since there be close to no competition in the groups. Even if groups wants a BD over a SwS... they rather have both no?
Not so strange. NCSoft hates both tanks and Light Elves. We're (SwS) both.
SwS has an edge in that it doesnt need a specific wpn to lvl
Not really an edge, since we're not particularly great with any weapon.
blah blah blah about some Bowsingers
Not really godly, just OK. We crit frequently... but lacking any kind of bow mastery, we miss *a lot*. Also, lacking the CS SA on your bow, you'll find yourself coming up short on MP in PvE party towards the latter quarter of the buff round.
Not so strange. NCSoft hates both tanks and Light Elves. We're (SwS) both.
SwS has an edge in that it doesnt need a specific wpn to lvl
Not really an edge, since we're not particularly great with any weapon.
blah blah blah about some Bowsingers
Not really godly, just OK. We crit frequently... but lacking any kind of bow mastery, we miss *a lot*. Also, lacking the CS SA on your bow, you'll find yourself coming up short on MP in PvE party towards the latter quarter of the buff round.
Looks?
Tight butt > Big chest.
Didnt mean to say godly, just that if he wants to comapre leveling speed, he should consider SwS using higher dmg wpns then 1 handed swords.
Also with guidance buffs and white mobbs... missing is nonconsistant...
But it is true BD is one of the fastest levelers these days with oop buffs. But dont underestimate SwS to much.
both are awesome classes. at 70+, you CANT create a group of melee/archers without a BD, or well you can but it will s*ck BIg time. add a SWS to that group and it will be a very good group, but the SWS isent needed in MOST of the group, but its realy worth to replace a DD for an SWS. so I think whatever you pick, you wont make the wrong choice.
agree, i like how (female) LEs looks, i dont really like how DEs looks
Sure, a male DE BD actually looks kinda cool, when he is fighting, but the grunts he makes when he dances, + the dance animation, + about every other animation looks bad
snip... using higher dmg wpns then 1 handed swords.
.
The tests i did was at 49 with focus berserker blade (2h), and at 58 focus dama (dama outdamages greasword, ironically, and yes i know GS isnt "top b")
The bd had spirit*raid+4 and tsu*sls+4 respectively